Israel launches major ground offensive in Gaza even as Netanyahu signals openness to end war

Israel announced on Sunday that it has launched an "extensive" new ground operation in Gaza, marking a major escalation in the ongoing war that began in October 2023. The offensive, named "Gideon's Chariots," follows Israel’s strategy to increase pressure on Hamas.

This comes as Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said his team in Doha, Qatar, is "working to realise every chance for a deal"—including a possible agreement to end the fighting in return for the release of the remaining 58 hostages, Hamas' departure from Gaza, and the disarmament of the territory.

The Israeli military reported that it struck over 670 targets in the past week and claimed to have killed dozens of Hamas fighters. Between Saturday night and Sunday, at least 103 Palestinians were killed, including 18 children and 13 women, according to Gaza's hospitals and medics.


Strikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza hit homes and tents sheltering displaced families. In northern Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp, separate strikes killed 19 people from two families, including several children. The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza was forced to shut down due to fighting nearby, leaving the region with virtually no functioning medical facilities.

The Israeli government maintains that the offensive aims to force Hamas into a temporary ceasefire that would release Israeli hostages. Hamas, however, has demanded a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and a roadmap to end the war.

Israel had said it would hold off on launching its new offensive until after US president Donald Trump's regional visit, to give diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire more time. However, Trump did not include Israel in his itinerary, and his trip concluded on Friday without any direct engagement with Israeli leaders.